Thousands of Animal-Rights Activists Celebrate Pride

People celebrate “rights for all” at festival across the country in wake of historic Supreme Court ruling favoring gay marriage.

Mercy For Animals (MFA), People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), Farm Animal Rights Movement, Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), and NYCLASS were amongst animal-rights organizations that rallied thousands of volunteer Pride participants last weekend in cities such as Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York City, Chicago, Toronto, and Washington, DC. Rainbow flags waved throughout the US, and hundreds of banners supporting “rights for all”—including animals—appeared alongside them. MFA volunteers carried banners with the message “No one is free when others are oppressed” and cumulatively handed out more than 65,000 leaflets advocating vegan diets. PETA’s float in Los Angeles—featuring volunteers in fruit and veggie costumes distributing vegan starter kits—attracted support from Channing Tatum, whose wife Jenna Dewan-Tatum is vegan. “We support equality for all, regardless of race, religion, gender identity, sexuality, age, ability, or species,” PETA media liaison Jessica Johnson said. Nathan Runkle, founder and president of MFA, said, “Mercy For Animals walk[s] in solidarity with everyone who faces oppression. The sooner we widen our circle of compassion to embrace those who are different from us—including those with four legs, wings, and fins—the better off we all will be.” Look for animal-rights activists at upcoming Pride festivals in Cleveland, Atlanta, Vancouver, Charleston, and Dallas.